Box Score

The Malone University volleyball team captured the American Mideast Conference Postseason Tournament Title on Saturday evening with a three-set victory over the event's top seed and host, Mt. Vernon Nazarene University. With the 25-14, 27-25, 25-16 triumph, the third-seeded Pioneers avenged their two previous regular-season losses to the Cougars and secured a berth in the NAIA Volleyball National Championships for the first time in school history. Malone, now 32-7 overall, reached the title match against MVNU after defeating second-seeded Walsh University in one of Saturday's earlier semifinal matches. The Pioneers will now move on to compete in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round next Saturday (Nov. 20). Check out the NAIA Volleyball National Championships section below for more information.

Malone posted 53 kills and a .240 hitting percentage in the championship match. Outside hitter Jennifer Gahagan paced the Pioneer attack with a match-high 18 kills to go with 14 digs. Middle hitter Hannah Haver followed with 13 kills and five blocks (one solo). Outside hitter Lori Gale contributed nine kills and a team-high 19 digs. Middle hitter Lauren Townley added seven kills while setter Jackie Schwamberger dished out 47 assists and scooped up nine digs.

Mt. Vernon Nazarene, now 41-4 on the season, was led by middle hitter Jackie Albrecht with nine kiils. Outside hitter Kendra Votaw pounded seven kills while defensive specialist Caitlin Myers recorded 27 digs. The Cougars totaled 25 kills and a .134 attack percentage in the defeat.

NAIA Volleyball National Championships: 36 teams will qualify for NAIA National Championship play. The top 11 seeds and the host school will receive first-round byes. The remaining 24 schools will play single-elimination matches on Saturday, November 20th at NAIA campuses nationwide. The winners of the 12 opening round matches will then join the 12 teams that received first-round byes to take part in a pool-play tournament Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in Sioux City, Iowa.

Malone is not currently ranked in the NAIA National Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll and so it is unlikely that the Pioneers will receive a first-round bye. The NAIA will announce the match-ups and locations for the 12 opening-round contests early next week.  Notably, the Pioneers' first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Championships comes in Malone's final year of NAIA postseason eligibilty as the institution begins its transition to NCAA Division II.